Orexigenic effects of omentin-1 related to decreased CART and CRH gene expression and increased norepinephrine synthesis and release in the hypothalamus

Omentin-1, a visceral fat depot-specific secretory protein, is inversely correlated with obesity and insulin resistance. We investigated, in rats, the effects of chronic omentin-1 administration (8 g/kg, intraperitoneally, once daily for 14-days) on feeding behavior and related hypothalamic peptides and neurotransmitters. Food intake and body weight were recorded daily throughout the study. We found a significantly increased food intake compared to controls, but only in days 10–14, while body weight significantly increased since day 12 (P < 0.05). Compared with vehicle, omentin-1 treatment led to a significant reduction in both cocaine and mphetamine-regulated transcript (CART) (P < 0.05) and corticotrophin releasing hormone (CRH) (P < 0.05) gene expression, while pro-opiomelanocortin (POMC), agouti-related peptide (AgRP), neuropeptide Y (NPY) and orexin-A gene expression were not modified with respect to vehicle-treated rats. We also found an increase in hypothalamic levodopa (l-dopa) (P < 0.05) and norepinephrine (NE) (P < 0.01) synthesis, without any effect on dopamine (DA) and serotonin (5-hydroxytryptamine, 5-HT) metabolism. Furthermore, in hypothalamic synaptosomes, omentin-1 (10–100 ng/ml) stimulated basal NE release (ANOVA, P < 0.0001; post hoc, P < 0.001 vs. vehicle), in a dose-dependent manner, leaving unaffected both basal and depolarization-induced DA and 5-HTrelease. Finally, when synaptosomes were co-perfused with leptin and omentin-1, we observed that leptin was able to reverse omentin-1-induced stimulation of NE. In conclusion, the orexigenic effects of omentin-1 could be related, at least in part, to decreased CART and CRH gene expression and increased NE synthesis and release in the hypothalamus.